The student pilot reported that before the accident flight he and his flight instructor had made three uneventful landings on the snow-covered runway at the airport in Sparta, Michigan, before his flight instructor exited the airplane to allow him to make his first solo flight.
The student pilot told investigators that his first solo landing resulted in “a bit of sliding” and that the Piper PA28 had come to a stop about 90° to the desired runway heading.
He taxied the airplane back to the ramp where he and his instructor discussed the landing, and both agreed to continue with the solo flight.
The student pilot reported that during his second solo landing the airplane slid to the left upon touchdown, and he was unable to regain directional control with right rudder before the airplane slid into a snowbank beside the runway.
The outboard 3 feet of the left wing was substantially damaged when it hit the ground.
The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight.
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction with the flight controls, nosewheel steering, or wheel brakes. Most of the runway was covered with 1-2 inches of snow/slush at the time of the accident. It is likely that the student pilot landed the airplane on a snow/slush covered portion of the runway when he lost directional control.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing on the snow/slush-covered portion of the runway and the flight instructor’s improper decision to allow the student to make his first solo flight from a snow/slush-covered runway.
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This February 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Here is a compensation driven instructor who has chosen the wrong profession. If they are part of a Part 141 school, then the Chief Pilot needs a carpet dance with the FSDO also. Suspend the instructor’s CFI and CPSEL ticket for 6 months so they have time to reconsider their chosen occupation.
The conditions were not conducive to “solo” operation that day. put it back into the barn.
So after he lost control on Solo Landing #1….“He taxied the airplane back to the ramp where he and his instructor discussed the landing, and both agreed to continue with the solo flight.”
Excuse my Klingon, but YGBSM.
Too bad the CFI’s credentials aren’t recorded on the NTSB form.
This CFI’s ticket should be suspended for at least a year for horrific judgement and for the next offense, which will clearly come about: permanent revocation. This person has probably scared and scarred this poor student for life and who may not fly again because of a dumb instructor.